Maybe my bank account is lucky that I'll be doing Olympics-related things in Vancouver in February, because it would be mega-tempting to travel to DC for a Merkuriev Crassus during a time when it will take a king's ransom to get in and out of the city.

as per Russian site of Bolshoihttp://www.bolshoi.r...x.php?id26=1430It'll be Ruben Muradian (?) dancing on 18th and 20th of Feb, and not Egor Khromushin.and it'll be Maria Allash, and not Zaharova on 16th, 19th and 21st.And the Bolshoi site lists Krysanova, no Shipulina.No English equivalent of the announcement, but wanted to let you know

as per Russian site of Bolshoihttp://www.bolshoi.r...x.php?id26=1430It'll be Ruben Muradian (?) dancing on 18th and 20th of Feb, and not Egor Khromushin.and it'll be Maria Allash, and not Zaharova on 16th, 19th and 21st.And the Bolshoi site lists Krysanova, no Shipulina.No English equivalent of the announcement, but wanted to let you know

as per Russian site of Bolshoihttp://www.bolshoi.r...x.php?id26=1430It'll be Ruben Muradian (?) dancing on 18th and 20th of Feb, and not Egor Khromushin.and it'll be Maria Allash, and not Zaharova on 16th, 19th and 21st.And the Bolshoi site lists Krysanova, no Shipulina.No English equivalent of the announcement, but wanted to let you know

I'm disappointed that Zakharova is not appearing.

Me too, very disappointed. Maria Allash is not one of my favorites, in fact I'd prefer Shipulina. Krysanova ia a young dancer that I LOVE but I've always thought of her as very lyrical, more of a Phrygia than an Aegina. Alexandrova would be my pick for Aegina however it's the 2 main men's roles that make or break Spartacus so I wouldn't be too concerned about who's cast as Aegina.

Thanks for the heads up. I am soooo bummed! I was so excited to see Zakharova dance live for the first time. As long as I still get to see Vasiliev, I won't totally freak out just yet. I knew the dream cast was too good to be true :-(

It offends me when Zakharova is called a 'prima ballerina'. She is clearly nothing of the sort.

It offends me because the title was never applied to a number of much greater greater artists of the Kirov/Maryinsky ballet or indeed the Bolshoi Ballet.

Of course there are moments in Zakharova performances that one cannot help but recognise her physical/technical achievements. However it is my experience that Zakharova attracts fans and not balletomanes.

It offends me when Zakharova is called a 'prima ballerina'. She is clearly nothing of the sort.

It offends me because the title was never applied to a number of much greater greater artists of the Kirov/Maryinsky ballet or indeed the Bolshoi Ballet.

Of course there are moments in Zakharova performances that one cannot help but recognise her physical/technical achievements. However it is my experience that Zakharova attracts fans and not balletomanes.

Well well, you are easily offended then . With both your experience as veteran balletgoers you should be able to understand that this is nothing more than newspaper hype, "prima ballerina" meaning foremost ballerina of this or that company - which, like it or not, she is.